summary: set ~5 years prior to the events of Aquaman (2018). Orm visits the Royal Doctor, the woman he secretly loves.
warnings: ??medical roleplay?? (they jokingly play patient and doctor), fluff, cringe flirting, <1k words.
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part one: reunion, part two: everything to nothing, part three: the refinery, part four: not the same
Clean. Sterile. Everything an infirmary should be. The bright lights of Atlantis shone in, the beds empty. The doctor stood with a couple of nurses, scribbling something on the board in front of them.
“Should we start organising for these to be farmed?”
The holograms beside us of the seaweed’s enzymes spun slowly, “Yes, maybe just a small patch, I still want to perfect it before experimenting in the field”
One of the nurses ran off, but the other stayed, “Should we inform the council? I mean, this is revolutionary”
I couldn't contain my smile, “Not yet, I reckon we should get it ready before we put it on your professional portfolio”
She spun excitedly, “You mean it, Y/N? You’ll give me a recommendation and credit?”
I pushed the board away, hearing footsteps come down the hall, “Why wouldn’t I? You’ve been a great help-”
The doors swung open, two guards entered the practice. Light blue lights glittering from their armour, “Please welcome his majesty, King Orm of Atlantis”
Y/N and her nurse bowed as the king entered the room. His blonde hair perfectly pushed to the back like a fin, purple garments skin tight, the Atlantean lights glowing gently off his muscles. She couldn't suffocate a smile much longer, straying her eyes away from his pale ones.
“Everyone is dismissed, I need to see the Doctor” His deep voice echoed.
She gently tapped the nurse on the shoulder and with the guards, the room was emptied. Orm stood by the door, she by one of the beds. The hum of Atlantis the only noise between them. Y/N tapped the bed in front of her, a smirk tugging at her cheeks. The King swam over to sit on the bed in front of her. Up close, all those sharp, regal edges softened out. His smile was warmer, his cheek smoother against her hand.
“What seems to be the problem today?” She mused, running her hand softly along his forehead.
“You’re funny, you know that?” He grinned, holding his hand in hers, pulling her towards him.
His lips pressed against hers, Orm’s warmth filling her up. His rough hand rubbed against her neck, pulling her even closer. Her hands held against his tight chest, burning the feeling of him into her hands. She lived for these moments. The King's health is the priority she’d say when questioned. A daily priority even. He was her forbidden addiction. Clamouring more and more for the taste of his skin. Only her nurses knew how itchy she got when the sun was beginning to set over Atlantis and the King had not been seen.
He pulled away, his thumb running over the curve of her lip, “What’s my diagnosis, Doctor?”
She hummed for a second, pretending to look concerned, holding his face in her hands, “I’m afraid you're too hot- your temperature that is”
He laughed, resting his head against her, “What do you suggest for treatment?”
The doctor backed away from him, pulling him to his feet. She adored the space he took up. Even if he wasn’t King, Orm would be a noticeable presence anywhere. She couldn’t get enough.
“Leave your bedroom window open and let the breeze cool you down” She winked.
I have so much respect for Zaheer. I don't think I ever had this feeling for an avatar villain before. I mean, Zuko was never a villain. Azula was awesome! I love Azula! Greatest villain of all times ever. She was so cold yet they managed to make her human somehow throughout the series. True Queen this one, but there was no respect there. Ozai was just an antagonist, he didn't have much personality on his own. He was just a guy with power that would never stop.
Amon was a good villain but no respect there too. Srly dude, that's not how you solve a problem. (I still think he could have another season tho, there was more to that story to be told). Unalaq was just slimy, please go way! A lot of things happened that season, a lot of shit going on but nothing specific on him as a person to draw my attention. But Zaheer, oh glob Zaheer, I just want him to win. I don't even care what he plans to do to Korra (eat her maybe and absorb her power).
It describes some of the issues with Korra fairly well, though she is perhaps a less extreme example.
I always feel really bad criticising Korra, if only because... well, she's a non-white female protagonist in a children's show, and we all know how rare those are. It's just that she's also an idiot. She's impulsive, shows little sensitivity to complex situations or ability to see from multiple perspectives, is aggressive to the point of foolhardiness, she acts entitled and then moans that others are holding her back, and tends to win either through the raw power of being the Avatar or through absurd plot contrivance.
I think the writers were trying their best, but... I don't know, I'm not denying that women or non-white people can be foolhardy, but Korra isn't just foolhardy, she's manifestly terrible at her job.
This might not be a sexism or racism issue - after all, Harry Potter has the exact same problems - but it's not how you ought to write a protagonist.
